Louis’ legacy comes to life. The trailer for Angelina Jolie‘s film adaptation of Unbroken was released Thursday, July 10, providing insight into the inspiring true story.
Like the New York Times‘ bestselling book by Laura Hillenbrand, Jolie’s latest directorial project is based on the real-life hardships endured by the late Louis Zamperini, who passed away last Thursday, July 3, at age 97.
British actor Jack O’Connell portrays Zamperini, an Olympic runner in the 1930s, who went on to join the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. During the war, Zamperini’s plane was shot down over the Pacific, where he and two others survived on a life raft for 47 days. After the raft was eventually found, Zamperini was imprisoned by the Japanese for two years, where he endured brutality and torture.
“If I can take it, I can make it,” O’Connell says in the preview.
For her sophomore directorial venture, Jolie, 39, worked closely with her L.A. neighbor, Zamperini himself, on the flick. The two sat down with Tom Brokaw for a Today show segment in February 2014, where Jolie confessed that working on the film was “the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
Brad Pitt‘s fiancee added that the film had become a “very personal” endeavor for her. “[I feel] such a huge responsibility to get it right,” she said, “because I love [Louis] so much, and because he’s helped me so much in my life,” she said.
Unbroken hits theaters Dec. 25. Watch the trailer here!
